history-classwork

questions:

For each of the conference below explain…

• Casablanca

• Cairo 

• Teheran - percentages agreement (Moscow)

• Yalta

• Potsdam

Casablanca

i) Who was there?
Roosevelt and Churchill attended the Casablanca Conference, joined by leaders of the Free French forces.
Stalin did not attend but was a major figure in their discussions.
The conference took place in Allied-occupied North Africa.

ii) What was discussed?
They met to discuss Allied war strategy in January 1943. They discussed demanding the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers.
Plans for liberating North Africa and eventually France were made.
They also talked about opening a second front in Europe.
The ideas reflected the principles of the Atlantic Charter and United Nations Declaration.

iii) Any tensions/disagreements? What was the source of these tensions?
There were disagreements mainly between Churchill and Stalin.
Stalin wanted an immediate invasion of France to ease Soviet pressure.
Churchill preferred attacking through Greece and the Balkans first.
This caused Stalin to suspect the Allies were delaying to weaken the Red Army.

Cairo 

i) Who was there?
At the Cairo and Teheran Conferences in 1943, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin were the main leaders involved.
China was also represented in Cairo by Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi).
These meetings brought together the major Allied powers: the USA, UK, USSR, and China. They were held to coordinate war efforts and discuss the future post-war order.

ii) What was discussed?
They discussed the final strategy for defeating Germany and Japan.
At Cairo, they planned the war in Asia and the future of liberated territories.
At Teheran, they agreed on opening a second front in France and post-war cooperation.
They also considered how to prevent future aggression and establish lasting peace.

iii) Any tensions/disagreements? What was the source of these tensions?
Yes, there were tensions between the USA, UK, and USSR over post-war goals.
Roosevelt and Churchill disagreed with Stalin’s expansion into Eastern Europe.
Churchill also clashed with Roosevelt over British imperial interests.
These tensions came from ideological differences between communism and Western democracy.

Teheran

i) Who was there?
The Teheran Conference was attended by Roosevelt (USA), Churchill (UK), and Stalin (USSR).
It was the first meeting of all three Allied leaders together during the war.
They met in Iran after Roosevelt and Churchill had earlier met with China’s Jiang Jieshi in Cairo.
Their discussions built on earlier agreements and focused on final wartime strategy.

ii) What was discussed?
They discussed coordinating the next phase of the war against Germany and Japan.
Plans were made for the Anglo-American invasion of France and Soviet offensives in the East.
Stalin wanted clear commitments to reduce Soviet pressure on the Eastern Front.
They also talked about post-war borders and compensation for Soviet losses.

iii) Any tensions/disagreements? What was the source of these tensions?
Yes, tensions existed between Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt over military and political aims.
Stalin wanted the Allies to open a second front quickly, while Churchill preferred slower action.
There were also disagreements about Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe and Asia.
Roosevelt opposed Stalin’s ambitions but knew Soviet help was vital against Japan.